Early Elizabethan Era

• Elizabeth


  Queen of England from 1558
• Elizabeth's government


  • She is the supreme ruler who makes all the decisions
  • She has a Parliament that provides advice
  • She has a House of Lords made up of noblemen and bishops
  • She has a House of Commons that is elected, but very few people could vote
• Role of Parliament


  1. Passing laws

  2. Approving taxes
• Justices of the Peace


  • Large landowners appointed to hear local court cases and keep law and order in the local area
  • They were not paid for their role
• Lord Lieutenants


  • Noblemen appointed by the government to govern English counties, raise local militia if needed, and oversee the enforcement of laws
• Elizabeth's Court


  • Mostly made up of noblemen who were Elizabeth's friends and advisors
  • They helped Elizabeth look good and gave her advice on day-to-day matters
  • They were also members of the Privy Council, which advised Elizabeth on decisions about the country
• Elizabethan social hierarchy


  • Nobility at the top
  • Gentry (landed people, not nobility)
  • Yeomen (farmers who owned their own land)
  • Tenant farmers (did not own their land)
  • Labourers and the unemployed
• Elizabethan urban social hierarchy

  • Merchants (extremely wealthy traders)
  • Professionals (lawyers, doctors, clergy)
  • Skilled craftsmen (e.g. silversmiths, tailors, carpenters)
  • Skilled employees of craftsmen
  • Labourers and the unemployed
• Law enforcement


  • No police force, just local watchmen who reported to Justices of the Peace
  • Most minor crimes dealt with at the local level by Justices of the Peace
• Elizabethan society was very unequal, with extreme poverty alongside wealth
• Elizabeth I


  Daughter of Henry VIII, one of the most famous Tudors
• Situation on Elizabeth's accession

  • Her legitimacy
  • Religion in England at the time
  • Politics and society in England
  • Britain's relations with foreign countries
• Legitimacy


  Whether Elizabeth was considered a legitimate heir to the throne
• Henry VIII married Katherine of Aragon, they had a daughter Mary who was legitimate
• Henry VIII had an affair with Bessie Blount and had an illegitimate son Henry Fitzroy
• Henry VIII divorced Katherine of Aragon and married Anne Boleyn, they had a daughter Elizabeth
• Some believed Elizabeth was illegitimate as Henry VIII's marriage to Anne Boleyn was not valid
• Henry VIII later declared his marriage to Anne Boleyn null and void, making Elizabeth illegitimate
• In Tudor times, women were seen as second class citizens, not able to rule in their own right
• Elizabeth was encouraged to take a husband to provide a male heir and military leadership
• Elizabeth's potential suitors


  • Philip of Spain
  • Duke of Alanon
  • Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester
• Marrying a foreign prince could upset relations with other countries
• Marrying Robert Dudley was seen as unsuitable as he was of low rank
• Elizabeth's refusal to marry upset many of her Protestant supporters
• Elizabeth


  • Clever, spoke 4 languages fluently, good at maths and Bible studies
  • Spent time in the Tower, understood Tudor court politics
  • Thoughtful, listened to advisors, made careful decisions
  • Remained the Virgin Queen, successfully held the throne
• Crown


  The monarchy and government of a country
• When Elizabeth I became Queen in 1558, the crown was basically broke and had no money
• Crown debt


  300,000 pounds, a huge sum at the time
• The crown's annual income was only 286,667 pounds, so the debt could not be paid off
• Foreign money lenders


  Antwerp in Belgium, lent money at 14% interest
• Mary I had tried to sell off crown lands to pay the debt, but this reduced the crown's income
• Why the crown needed money

  To remain secure on the throne and reward loyal followers
• Since 1540, the crown had been devaluing its coins by reducing the silver and gold content, causing inflation
• Henry VIII, Edward VI, and Mary I had all borrowed and sold crown lands to fund wars and lavish lifestyles
• Ways the crown could get money

  • Taxing people
  • Borrowing from other countries
  • Forced loans
  • Customs duties
  • Rents and income from crown lands
• Options facing Elizabeth I

  • Raise taxes (risking revolt)
  • Improve the quality of the coinage
• Elizabeth I did not raise taxes, instead she hoarded money, cut household expenses, and continued selling crown lands
• By 1574, the crown was out of debt for the first time since 1558
• Elizabeth's actions did not help the poorer people, who faced an even heavier burden than the rich
• Scotland


  Ally of France, attacked England, relationship with England declining